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Each year, 46 million Americans suffer from mental illness. Only 41% receive help; these are the options

2019-10-10T08:17:20.944Z


An important reason why so many do not seek help is stigma. But there is no shame in finding a voice that listens to us and takes care of us. Sometimes, just being heard and discussing solutions is to ...


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(CNN) - An estimated 46 million American adults experience mental illness a year, but only 41% receive help in this regard, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The problems range from depression and anxiety to substance abuse.

An important reason why so many do not seek help is stigma. But there is no shame in finding a voice that listens to us and takes care of us. Sometimes, just being heard and discussing solutions is all that is needed.

  • Depression and suicide: where to seek help in countries in Latin America and Spain?

Here we show how to find help in the United States, from employee benefits to free and variable-scale counseling services.

Employer Mental Health Benefits

According to a report by the Society for Human Resource Management, 81% of American employers offer mental health benefits. But many employees do not take advantage of them.

The interested party should call their insurer to get a list of covered providers in their area, including therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists.

In most cases, once the deductible is reached, those benefits come into effect just as they would for physical health problems and only one covers the co-payment.

Many companies also offer employee assistance programs that can include a therapist in the workplace, free of charge for a certain number of visits per year.

75% of medium-sized businesses have employee assistance programs, according to the nonprofit organization Mental Health America. That number goes up to 95% for companies with more than 5,000 employees.

Pro bono and variable scale advice

If one qualifies for Medicaid or Medicare, mental health services are part of the coverage. But there is a coverage gap for those who do not have insurance through their employer.

There are thousands of therapists across the country who provide free counseling or provide therapy on a variable scale.

And that's good because about 30% of all psychologists in the United States don't work with insurance, according to Mental Health America.

You can find out who these providers are in each city by contacting the agencies below:

  • National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
  • Helpline of the National Alliance on Mental Illnesses 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

There are also ways to examine yourself to determine if one is experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition, provided by Mental Health America.

Group counseling and peer support

Contact any of the mental health organizations mentioned above to find peer groups and other group counseling services. These organizations often have affiliates in cities that organize group meetings. They offer coping mechanisms to deal with stress, depression, anxiety and many other mental health conditions.

Crisis Hotline

If you know someone who needs immediate help and can be suicidal:

National lifeline for suicide prevention in the US: 1-800-273-8255

Proactive ways to stay mentally healthy

Therapists call this list "good mental health hygiene." And one should try to do these things every day.

  • Try to sleep well.
  • Watch what you eat: too much sugar and caffeine can affect your mood.
  • Go out every day and walk among plants, animals and other people.
  • Move, whether walking, doing yoga or dancing with friends.
  • Limit your time in front of the screen. Increasingly, therapists are finding a connection between too much technology and depression and anxiety.

Mental diseases

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2019-10-10

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